Professionals Objective 5: e-business

For the UK to be a world power in the Information Age, the nations' companies must embrace the opportunities brought about by the meteoric growth of the Internet. This means companies reassessing business strategies, distribution processes and communications channels from customers to suppliers. IT strategy and business strategy have become irrevocably intertwined. However, many companies outside of the IT industry itself have limited technical skills, and sometimes little knowledge about how technology can help them. They need practical support to identify their needs and implement the changes required to remain competitive.

Improved access to the skills required for e-business	Programmes: 5.1. Facilitation: support initiatives that demonstrate the benefits of becoming 'e-businesses', linking with regional strategies and working with the government's 'e-envoy', the Institute of Directors, the Confederation of British Industry, UK Online and sister National Training Organisations. 5.2. e-skills into business: establish a web portal service to help companies, particularly small businesses, assess their needs and address their skills requirements to engage in e-commerce.
The skills pool to support UK leadership in e-business